How To: Win Your March Madness Bracket

Remember head-to-head records

The team you’re picking to have a long run in March Madness may have steamrolled most of its opponents all season, but if you see it will face the team it historically has trouble beating, be careful. Head-to-head records count for a lot in sports. If one team’s Kryptonite is a foe it has struggled against in the past — and it’s likely both teams will square off in the tournament — we’d put our money on the team that won in the teams’ previous encounter. Confidence means a lot, and if a team can enter a game knowing it has the others' number, you’re more than likely to see it emerge a victor and win your March Madness bracket. Be wary of teams that are historically great in conference, but struggle out of it. The beauty of March Madness is teams get to face all sorts of opponents, and if a club has trouble winning against everyone except for its traditional rivals (those it’s most familiar with), it may struggle in the wide-open NCAA tournament.

Look at historical trends

Some fans might argue that the past has nothing to do with the present, and while that’s true to a certain point, it’s foolish to ignore NCAA tournament trends when you want to win your March Madness bracket. Keep history in mind when making your picks, and remember that no 16th-ranked team has ever upset a No. 1 team. So, if you’re sure a 16 can cause an upset, just remember it’s got history against it. Likewise, the No. 15 seed has only beaten the No. 2 seed on four occasions, No. 14 has knocked off No. 3 only 15 times, and so on. Be a student of the game and know your history. Picking upsets is what will put you ahead of your coworkers, but don’t make picks that are historically improbable or you’ll end up trailing the pool in a hurry.

pick a pack of pro players

If you’re stuck on a pick, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Whether you’re asking a buddy whose bracket is a thing of beauty or reading the copious amounts of analyses online, it’s OK to get a second opinion. Even if that opinion isn’t in agreement with yours, it will mean you’ll have some critical thinking ahead — which is never a bad thing. If your friend gives you his answer, quiz him as to why he’s leaning that way. Don’t be afraid to jab back and forth with him in hopes of hammering out what pick is best.